48 Brooks • Financial Management: Core Concepts

9. Is the present value always less than the future value?

Yes, as long as interest rates are positive—and interest rates are always positive—the present value of
a sum of money will always be less than its future value. One can get confused with this concept if
one thinks about the depreciation of an asset over time. Present value and future value in the TVM
equation refer identical cash flows at two different points in time.

10. When a lottery price is offered as $10,000,000 but will pay out a series of $250,000 payments
over forty years, is it really a $10,000,000 lottery prize?

The present value of the lottery is not worth $10,000,000. The total payments over time are
$10,000,000, but this is not the value of the lottery because these payments are at different points in
time and cash flows can only be added if they are at the same point in time.

 Answers to End-of-Chapter Problems

1. Future Values. Fill in the future values for the following table,
a. using the future value formula, FV = PV × (1 + r) .
n

b. using the time value of money keys or function from a calculator or spreadsheet.

Present Value Interest Rate Number of Periods Future Value

$ 400.00 5.0% 5
$17,411.00 6.0% 30
$35,000.00 10% 20
$26,981.75 16% 15

Answer:
Present Value Interest Rate Number of Periods Future Value
$ 400.00 5.0% 5 $ 510.51
$17,411.00 6.0% 30 $ 99,999.92
$35,000.00 10% 20 $235,462.50
$26,981.75 16% 15 $249,999.97

a. With the TVM Formula (rounding to second decimal only for final answer),
FV = $400.00 × (1.05)5 = $400.00 × 1.2763 = $510.51
FV = $17,411.00 × (1.06)30 = $17,411.00 × 5.7435 = $99,999.92
FV = $35,000.00 × (1.10)20 = $35,000.00 × 6.7275 = $235,462.50
FV = $26,981.75 × (1.16)15 = $26,981.75 × 9.2655 = $249,999.97

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 Chapter 3 The Time Value of Money (Part 1) 49

b. Time Value of Money Keys or Spreadsheet

Input 5 5.0 −400 0

Variable N I/Y PV PMT FV
Compute 510.51

Input 30 6.0 −17,411 0

Variable N I/Y PV PMT FV
Compute 99,999.92

Input 20 10.0 −35,000 0

Variable N I/Y PV PMT FV
Compute 235,462.50

Input 15 16.0 −26,981.75 0

Variable N I/Y PV PMT FV
Compute 249,999.97

2. Future Value (with changing years). Dixie Bank offers a certificate of deposit with an option to
select your own investment period. Jonathan has $7,000 for his CD investment. If the bank is
offering a 6% interest rate, how much will the CD be worth at maturity if Jonathan picks a
a. two-year investment period?
b. five-year investment period?
c. eight-year investment period?
d. fifteen-year investment period?

a. FV = $7,000 × (1.06) = $7,000 × 1.1236 = $7,865.20

2
Answer:
b. FV = $7,000 × (1.06)5 = $7,000 × 1.3382 = $9,367.58
c. FV = $7,000 × (1.06) = $7,000 × 1.5938 = $11,156.94
8

d. FV = $7,000 × (1.06)15 = $7,000 × 2.3966 = $16,775.91

3. Future Value (with changing interest rates). Jose has $4,000 to invest for a two-year period. He is
looking at four different investment choices. What will be the value of his investment at the end
of two years for each of the following potential investments?
a. bank CD at 4%.
b. bond fund at 8%.
c. mutual stock fund at 12%.
d. new venture stock at 24%.

a. FV = $4,000 × (1.04) = $4,000 × 1.0816 = $4,326.40

2
Answer:
b. FV = $4,000 × (1.08)2 = $4,000 × 1.1664 = $4,665.60
c. FV = $4,000 × (1.12)2 = $4,000 × 1.2544 = $5,017.60
d. FV = $4,000 × (1.24)2 = $4,000 × 1.5376 = $6,150.40

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50 Brooks • Financial Management: Core Concepts

4. Future Value. Grand Opening Bank is offering a one-time investment opportunity for its new
customers. A customer opening a new checking account can buy a special savings bond for $100
today, which the bank will compound at 7.5% for the next twenty years. The savings bond must
be held for at least five years but can then be cashed in at the end of any year starting with year
five. What is the value of the bond at each cash-in date up through twenty years? (Use an Excel
spreadsheet to solve this problem.)
Spreadsheet Solution:
In Cells A1 through A16 put in the Present Value of the savings bond, $100.00.
In Cells B1 through B16 put in the annual interest rate, 0.075, R.
In Cells C1 through C16 put in the waiting time in years, 5 through 20, N.
In Cell D1 put in the FV function using the row value in A1 for the PV, row value in B1 for
the interest rate, row value in C1 for n. Copy the formula for cells D2 through D16.

The displayed value will be the future value of the $100 savings bond at 7.5% annual interest.

A B C D
1 −100.00 0.075 5 FV (PV = A1, rate = B1, n = C1) = $143.56
2 −100.00 0.075 6 FV (PV = A2, rate = B2, n = C2) = $154.33
3 −100.00 0.075 7 FV (PV = A3, rate = B3, n = C3) = $165.90
4 −100.00 0.075 8 FV (PV = A4, rate = B4, n = C4) = $178.35
5 −100.00 0.075 9 FV (PV = A5, rate = B5, n = C5) = $191.72
6 −100.00 0.075 10 FV (PV = A6, rate = B6, n = C6) = $206.10
7 −100.00 0.075 11 FV (PV = A7, rate = B7, n = C7) = $221.56
8 −100.00 0.075 12 FV (PV = A8, rate = B8, n = C8) = $238.18
9 −100.00 0.075 13 FV (PV = A9, rate = B9, n = C9) = $256.04
10 −100.00 0.075 14 FV (PV = A10, rate = B10, n = C10) = $275.24
11 −100.00 0.075 15 FV (PV = A11, rate = B11, n = C11) = $295.89
12 −100.00 0.075 16 FV (PV = A12, rate = B12, n = C12) = $318.08
13 −100.00 0.075 17 FV (PV = A13, rate = B13, n = C13) = $341.94
14 −100.00 0.075 18 FV (PV = A14, rate = B14, n = C14) = $367.58
15 −100.00 0.075 19 FV (PV = A15, rate = B15, n = C15) = $395.15
16 −100.00 0.075 20 FV (PV = A16, rate = B16, n = C16) = $424.79

Note: The negative values in column A denote the cash outflow and produce a positive cash inflow
in column D.

5. Future Value. Jackson Enterprises has just purchased some land for $230,000. The land was
purchased for a future beach front property development project that will include rental
cabins, lodge, and recreational facilities. Jackson Enterprises has not committed to the
development project, but will decide in five years whether to go forward with it or sell off the
land. Real estate values increase annually at 4.5% for unimproved property in this area. For
how much can Jackson Enterprises expect to sell the property in five years if it chooses not to
proceed with the beach front development project? What if Jackson Enterprises holds the
property for ten years and then sells?

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 Chapter 3 The Time Value of Money (Part 1) 51

Answer: Holding Property Five Years:

FV = $230,000 × (1.045) = $230,000 × 1.2462 = $286,621.85

5

Holding Property Ten Years:

FV = $230,000 × (1.045) = $230,000 × 1.5530 = $357,182.97

10

6. Future Value. The Portland Stallions professional football team is looking at its future revenue
stream from ticket sales. Currently, a season package costs $325 per seat. The season ticket
holders have been promised this same rate for the next three years. Four years from now, the
organization will raise season ticket prices based on the estimated inflation rate of 3.25%. What
will the season tickets sell for in four years?

FV = $325 × (1.0325) = $325 × 1.136475928 = $369.35

4
Answer:

7. Future Value. Upstate University charges $16,000 a year in graduate tuition. Tuition rates are
growing at 4.5% each year. You plan on enrolling in graduate school in five years. What is your
expected graduate tuition in five years?

Answer: FV = $16,000 × (1.045)5 = $16,000 × 1.246181938 = $19,938.91

8. Present Values. Fill in the present values for the following table,
a. using the present value formula, PV = FV × (1/(1 + r ) ).
n

b. using the TVM keys or function from a calculator or spreadsheet.

Future Value Interest Rate Number of Periods Present Value

$ 900.00 5% 5 ?
$ 80,000.00 6% 30 ?
$350,000.00 10% 20 ?
$ 26,981.75 16% 15 ?

Answer:
Future Value Interest Rate Number of Periods Present Value
$ 900.00 5% 5 $ 705.17
$ 80,000.00 6.0% 30 $13,928.81
$350,000.00 10% 20 $52,025.27
$ 26,981.75 16% 15 $ 2,912.06

a. With TVM Formula (rounding to second decimal only for final answer),

PV = $900.00 × 1/(1.05) = $400.00 × 0.7835 = $705.17

5

PV = $80,000.00 × 1/(1.06) = $80,000.00 × 0.1741 = $13,928.81

30

PV = $350,000.00 × 1/(1.10)20 = $350,000.00 × 0.1486 = $52,025.27

PV = $26,981.75 × 1/(1.16)15 = $26,981.75 × 0.1079 = $2,912.06

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52 Brooks • Financial Management: Core Concepts

b. Time Value of Money Keys or Spreadsheet

Input 5 5.0 0 −900

Variable N I/Y PV PMT FV
Compute 705.17

Input 30 6.0 0 −80,000

Variable N I/Y PV PMT FV
Compute 13,928.81

Input 20 10.0 0 −350,000

Variable N I/Y PV PMT FV
Compute 52,025.27

Input 15 6.0 0 −26,981.75

Variable N I/Y PV PMT FV
Compute 2,912.06

9. Present Value (with changing years). When they are first born, Grandma gives every grandchild
a $2,500 savings bond that matures in eighteen years. For each of the following grandchildren,
what is the present value of each savings bonds if the current discount rate is 4%?
a. Seth turned sixteen years old today.
b. Shawn turned thirteen years old today.
c. Sherry turned nine years old today.
d. Sheila turned four years old today.
e. Shane was just born.

a. PV = $2,500 × 1/(1.04) = $2,500 × 0.9246 = $2,311.39

2
Answer:
b. PV = $2,500 × 1/(1.04)5 = $2,500 × 0.8219 = $2,054.82
c. PV = $2,500 × 1/(1.04)9 = $2,500 × 0.7026 = $1,756.47
d. PV = $2,500 × 1/(1.04)14 = $2,500 × 0.5775 = $1,443.69
e. PV = $2,500 × 1/(1.04)18 = $2,500 × 0.4936 = $1,234.07

10. Present Value (with changing interest rates). Marty has been offered an injury settlement of
$10,000 payable in three years. He wants to know what the present value of the injury
settlement is if his opportunity cost is 5%. (The opportunity cost is the interest rate in this
problem.) What if the opportunity cost is 8%? What if it is 12%?

PV = $10,000 × 1/(1.05) = $10,000 × 0.8638 = $8,638.38

3
Answer:
PV = $10,000 × 1/(1.08)3 = $10,000 × 0.7938 = $7,938.32
PV = $10,000 × 1/(1.12)3 = $10,000 × 0.7118 = $7,117.80

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 Chapter 3 The Time Value of Money (Part 1) 53

11. Present Value. The State of Confusion wants to change the current retirement policy for state
employees. To do so, however, the state must pay the current pension fund members the
present value of their promised future payments. There are 240,000 current employees in
the state pension fund. The average employee is twenty-two years away from retirement, and
the average promised future retirement benefit is $400,000 per employee. If the state has a
discount rate of 5% on all its funds, how much money will the state have to pay to the
employees before it can start a new pension plan?

Answer: Present Value of Retirement Payments of the Average Employee:

PV = $400,000 × 1/(1.05) = $400,000 × 0.3418 = $136,739.95

22

With 240,000 employees, the Total Obligations Are:

PV Obligation of Pension Fund = 240,000 × $136,739.95 = $32,817,590,000

Note, the PV was not rounded to nearest cent prior to multiplying it by the number of
employees.

12. Present Value. Two rival football fans have made the following wager: if one fan’s college
football team wins the conference title outright, the other fan will donate $1,000 to the winning
school. Both schools have had relatively unsuccessful teams but are improving each season. If
the two fans must put up their potential donation today and the discount rate is 8% for the
funds, what is the required upfront deposit if a team is expected to win the conference title in
five years? Ten years? Twenty years?

Answer: Present Value of Payoff in Five Years:

PV = $1,000 × 1/(1.08)5 = $1,000 × 0.6806 = $680.58

Present Value of Payoff in Ten Years:

PV = $1,000 × 1/(1.08)10 = $1,000 × 0.4632 = $463.19

Present Value of Payoff in Twenty Years:

PV = $1,000 × 1/(1.08)20 = $1,000 × 0.2145 = $214.55

13. Present Value. Prestigious University is offering a new admission and tuition payment plan
for all alumni. On the birth of a child, parents can guarantee admission to Prestigious if they
pay the first year’s tuition. The university will pay an annual rate of return of 4.5% on the
deposited tuition, and a full refund will be available if the child chooses another university. The
tuition is $12,000 a year at Prestigious and is frozen at that level for the next eighteen years.
What would parents pay today if they just gave birth to a new baby and the child will attend
college in eighteen years? How much is the required payment to secure admission for their
child if the interest rate falls to 2.5%?

PV = $12,000 × 1/(1.045) = $12,000 × 1/(2.2085) = $12,000 × 0.4528 = $5,433.60

18
Answer:
PV = $12,000 × 1/(1.025) = $12,000 × 1/(1.5597) = $12,000 × 0.6412 = $7,693.99
18

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54 Brooks • Financial Management: Core Concepts

14. Present Value. Standard Insurance is developing a long-life insurance policy for people who
outlive their retirement nest egg. The policy will pay out $250,000 on your eighty-fifth birthday.
You must buy the policy on your sixty-fifth birthday. The insurance company can earn 7% on
the purchase price of your policy. What is the minimum purchase price the insurance company
should charge for this policy?

PV = $250,000 × 1/(1 + 0.07) = $250,000 × 0.258419 = $64,604.75

20
Answer:

15. Present Value. You are currently in the job market. Your dream is to earn a six-figure salary
($100,000). You hope to accomplish this goal within the next thirty years. In your field, salaries
grow at 3.75% per year. What starting salary do you need to reach this goal?

Answer: PV = $100,000 × 1/(1 + 0.0375)30 = $100,000 × 0.3314033 = $33,140.33

16. Interest Rate or Discount Rate. Fill in the interest rate for the following table
a. using the interest rate formula, r = (FV/PV) − 1.
1/ n

b. using the TVM keys or function from a calculator or spreadsheet.

Present Value Future Value Number of Periods Interest Rate

$ 500.00 $ 1,998.00 18 ?
$17,335.36 $230,000.00 30 ?
$35,000.00 $ 63,214.00 20 ?
$27,651.26 $225,000.00 15 ?

Answer:
Present Value Future Value Number of Periods Interest Rate
$ 500.00 $ 1,998.00 18 8.00%
$17,335.36 $230,000.00 30 9.00%
$35,000.00 $ 63,214.00 20 3.00%
$27,651.26 $225,000.00 15 15.00%

a. With the TVM Formula (rounding to second decimal only for final answer)

r = ($1998.00/$500.00) − 1 = 1.0800 − 1 = 8.00%

1/18

r = ($230,000/$17,335.36)1/30 − 1 = 1.0900 − 1 = 9.00%

r = ($63,214/$35,000) − 1 = 1.0300 − 1 = 3.00%
1/20

r = ($225,000/$27,651.26) − 1 = 1.1500 − 1 = 15.00%

1/15

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 Chapter 3 The Time Value of Money (Part 1) 55

b. Time Value of Money Keys or Spreadsheet

Input 18 500.00 0 −1,998.00

Variable N I/Y PV PMT FV
Compute 8.00

Input 30 17,335.36 0 −230,000

Variable N I/Y PV PMT FV
Compute 9.00

Input 20 35,000 0 −63,214

Variable N I/Y PV PMT FV
Compute 3.00

Input 15 27,651.26 0 −225,000

Variable N I/Y PV PMT FV
Compute 15.00

17. Interest rate (with changing years). Keiko is looking at the following investment choices and
wants to know what interest rate each choice produces.
a. Invest $400 and receive $786.86 in ten years.
b. Invest $3,000 and receive $10,927.45 in fifteen years.
c. Invest $31,180.47 and receive $100,000 in twenty years.
d. Invest $31,327.88 and receive $1,000,000 in forty-five years.

a. r = ($786.86/$400) − 1 = 1.07 − 1 = 7.00%

1/10
Answer:
b. r = ($10,927.45/$3,000)1/15 − 1 = 1.09 − 1 = 9.00%
c. r = ($100,000/$31,180.47)1/20 − 1 = 1.06 − 1 = 6.00%
d. r = ($1,000,000/$31,327.88)1/45 − 1 = 1.08 − 1 = 8.00%

18. Interest Rate. Two mutual fund managers, Martha and David, have been bragging that their
fund is the top performer. Martha states that investors bought shares in the mutual fund ten
years ago for $21.00 and those shares are now worth $65.00. David states that investors bought
shares in his mutual fund for only $3.00 six years ago and now they are worth $7.30. Which
mutual fund manager has had the highest growth rate for the management periods? Should
this comparison be made over different management periods? Why or why not?

Martha’s Rate, r = ($65.00/$21.00) − 1 = 1.1196 − 1 = 11.96%

1/10
Answer:
David’s Rate, r = ($7.30/$3.00)1/6 − 1 = 1.1598 − 1 = 15.98%

Fund Two has the higher annual return but for a shorter period of time. To be appropriate
for comparing performance, the funds should be evaluated over the same period of time.
The first fund may have had a higher return over the last six years than the second fund,
but low returns in the earlier years reduced the return below the 16% return rate of the
second fund.

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56 Brooks • Financial Management: Core Concepts

19. Interest Rate. In 1972, Bob purchased a new Datsun 240Z for $3,000. Datsun later changed its
name to Nissan, and the 1972 240Z became a classic. Bob kept his car in excellent condition
and in 2002 could sell the car for six times what he originally paid. What was Bob’s return on
owning this car? What if he keeps the car for another thirty years and earns the same rate?
What could he sell the car for in 2032?

Answer: Thirty years’ return on car:

r = ($18,000/$3,000) − 1 = 1.0615 − 1 = 6.15%

1/30

Price thirty years from now:

FV = $18,000 × (1.0615) = $108,000

30

Or just increase the price six-fold again, $18,000 × 6 = $108,000.

20. Interest Rate. Upstate Bank is offering long-term certificates of deposit with a face value of
$100,000 (future value). Bank customers can buy these CDs today for $67,000 and will receive
the $100,000 in fifteen years. What interest rate is the bank paying on these CDs?

Answer: r = ($100,000/$67,000)1/15 − 1 = 1.027058 − 1 = 2.7058%

21. Discount rate. Future Bookstore sells books before they are published. Today, they are offering
the book Adventures in Finance for $14.20, but the book will not be published for another
two years. The retail price when the book is published will be $24. What is the discount rate
Future Bookstore is offering its customers for this book?

r = ($24/$14.20) − 1 = 1.30 − 1 = 30%

1/2
Answer:

22. Growth and Future Value. A famous disease control scientist is trying to determine the
potential infected population of the new West Columbia flu. Two weeks ago, the first patient
showed up with the disease. Four days later the disease control center in Atlanta had six
confirmed cases. The scientist estimates that it will be another two days before a cure will be
ready, a total of 16 days from the first confirmed case. How many patients will be infected
two days from now?

Answer: The disease is spreading at a growth rate of nearly 57% per day.

r = (6/1) − 1 = 1.3161 − 1 = 56.51%

1/4

Using the same growth rate for the 16-day period, (two weeks and two days), we
determine that the number of patients infected will be:

FV = 1 × (1.5156) = 1,296 or 1,296 patients

16

Or you could realize that every four days the number of people infected increases by
six times, and with four periods of four days you have

1 × 6 × 6 × 6 × 6 = 1 × (6)4 = 1,296.

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 Chapter 3 The Time Value of Money (Part 1) 57

23. Waiting Period. Fill in the number of periods for the following table.
a. using the waiting period formula, n = ln(FV/PV)/ln(1 + r).
b. using the TVM keys or function from a calculator or spreadsheet.

Present Value Future Value Interest Rate Number of Periods

$ 800.00 $ 1,609.76 6% ?
$17,843.09 $ 100,000.00 9% ?
$35,000.00 $3,256,783.97 12% ?
$25,410.99 $ 300,000.00 28% ?

Answer: Solutions with Formula, TVM Keys, and Spreadsheet

Present Value Future Value Interest Rate Number of Periods

$ 800.00 $ 1,609.76 6% 12
$17,843.09 $ 100,000.00 9% 20
$35,000.00 $3,256,783.97 12% 40
$25,410.99 $ 300,000.00 28% 10

a. With the TVM Formula (rounding to second decimal only for final answer)

n = ln($1,609.76/$800.00)/ln(1.06) = 0.6992/0.0583 = 12
n = ln($100,000/$17,843.09)/ln(1.09) = 1.7236/0.0862 = 20
n = ln($3,256,783.97/$35,000)/ln(1.12) = 4.5331/0.1133 = 40
n = ln($300,000/$25,410.99)/ln(1.28) = 2.4686/0.2469 = 10
b. Time Value of Money Keys or Spreadsheet Inputs

Input 6.00 800.00 0 −1,609.76

Variable N I/Y PV PMT FV
Compute 12

Input 9.00 17,843.09 0 −100,000

Variable N I/Y PV PMT FV
Compute 20

Input 12.0 35,000 0 −3,256,783.97

Variable N I/Y PV PMT FV
Compute 40

Input 28.0 25,410.99 0 −300,000

Variable N I/Y PV PMT FV
Compute 10

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58 Brooks • Financial Management: Core Concepts

24. Waiting period (with changing years). Jamal is waiting to be a millionaire. He wants to know
how long he must wait if
a. he invests $24,465.28 at 16% today?
b. he invests $47,101.95 at 13% today?
c. he invests $115,967.84 at 9% today?
d. he invests $295,302.77 at 5% today?

Answer: a. n = ln($1,000,000/$24,465.28)/ln(1.16) = 3.7105/0.1484 = 25

b. n = ln($1,000,000/$47,101.95)/ln(1.13) = 3.0554/0.1222 = 25
c. n = ln($1,000,000/$115,967.84)/ln(1.09) = 2.1544/0.0862 = 25
d. n = ln($1,000,000/$295,302.77)/ln(1.05) = 1.2198/0.0488 = 25

25. Waiting Period. Jeff, a local traffic engineer, has designed a new pedestrian footbridge. The
bridge has been designed to handle 200 pedestrians daily. Once the bridge reaches 1,000
pedestrians daily, however, it will require a new bracing system. Jeff has estimated that traffic
will increase annually at 5%. How long will the current bridge system work before a new
bracing system is required? What if the annual traffic rate increases at 8% annually? At what
traffic increase rate will the current system last only ten years?

Answer: For 5% growth rate in pedestrian traffic:

n = ln(1000/200)/ln(1.05) = 1.6904/0.0488 = 32.9869 years

For 8% growth rate in pedestrian traffic:

n = ln(1000/200)/ln(1.08) = 1.6904/0.0770 = 20.9124 years

Ten years maximum would require a growth rate of:

r = (1000/200) − 1 = 1.1746 − 1 = 17.46%

1/10

26. Waiting Period. Susan Norman seeks your financial advice. She wants to know how long it will
take for her to become a millionaire. She tells you that she has $1,330 today and wants to invest
it in an aggressive stock portfolio. The historical return on this type of investment is 18% per
year. How long will she have to wait if the $1,330 is the only amount she invests and she never
withdraws from the market until she reaches her million dollars? (Assume no taxes on the
earnings). What if the rate of return is only 14% annually? What if the rate of return is only
10% annually?

Answer: Waiting time if investment is earning 18%:

n = ln(1,000,000/1,330)/ln(1.18) = 6.6226/0.1655 = 40.0121 years

Waiting time if investment is earning 14%:

n = ln(1,000,000/1,330)/ln(1.14) = 6.6226/0.1310 = 50.5431 years

Waiting time if investment is earning 10%:

n = ln(1,000,000/1,330)/ln(1.10) = 6.6226/0.0953 = 69.4845 years

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 Chapter 3 The Time Value of Money (Part 1) 59

27. Waiting Period. Upstate University currently has a 6,000-car parking capacity for faculty, staff,
and students. This year, the university issued 4,356 parking passes. Parking passes have been
growing at a rate of 6% per year. How long will it be before the university will need to add
additional parking?

Answer: Waiting time if parking growth rate is 6%:

n = ln(6,000/4,356)/ln(1.06) = 0.320305264/0.058268908 = 5.4953 years

28. Double Your Money. Approximately how long will it take to double your money if you get
5.5%, 7.5%, or 9.5% annual return on your investment? Verify the approximate doubling
period with the time value of money equation.

Answer: Approximating the double period with the Rule of 72s:

At 5.5%, 72/5.5 = 13.09, or a little over 13 years

At 7.5%, 72/7.5 = 9.60, or a little over 9 1/2 years
At 9.5%, 72/9.5 = 7.5789, or a little over 7 1/2 years

Verification:
n = ln 2/ln 1.055 = 0.6931/0.0535 = 12.9462, or a little under 13 years
n = ln 2/ln 1.075 = 0.6931/0.0723 = 9.5844, or a little over 9 1/2 years
n = ln 2/ln 1.095 = 0.6931/0.0908 = 7.6376, or a little over 7 1/2 years
29. Double Your Wealth. Kant Miss Company is promising its investors that it will double their
money every three years. Is this promise too good to be true? What annual rate is Kant Miss
promising? If you invested $250 now and Kant Miss was able to deliver on its promise, how
long would it take before your investment reaches $32,000?

Answer: According to the rule of 72s, the approximate rate is: 72/3 = 24%
The actual rate is: r = 2 − 1 = 25.99%
1/3

To calculate how long it would take for $250 to turn into $32,000:

n = ln(32,000/250)/ln(1.2599) = 21 years
30. Challenge Question. In the text chapter, we dealt exclusively with a single lump sum, but often
we may be looking at several lump-sum values simultaneously. Let’s consider the retirement
plan of a couple. Currently, the couple has four different investments: a 401(k) plan, two
pension plans, and a personal portfolio. The couple is five years away from retirement. They
believe they have sufficient money in their plans today so that they do not have to contribute to
the plans over the next five years and will still meet their $2 million retirement goal. Here are
the current values and the growth rate of each plan:
401(k): $88,000 growing at 6.5%
Pension Plan 1: $304,000 growing at 7%
Pension Plan 2: $214,000 growing at 7.25%
Personal Portfolio: $149,000 growing at 8.5%
Does the couple have enough already invested to make their goal in five years?
Hint: View each payment as a separate problem and find the future value of each lump sum. Then
add up all the future values five years from now.

©2010 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall

64 Brooks • Financial Management: Core Concepts

By accepting the offer, Jake avoids the risk that prices will fall due to market conditions. On the other
hand, if prices should be higher than expected, he loses out on the opportunity to sell at the higher
price. The biggest risk is that something will happen to his crop. If the crop should fail, he would
have to absorb all of his costs up to that point, and he would also be obliged to buy trees at the
market price, whatever that may be, to meet his commitment to deliver 10,000 trees. The discount
rate implies that funds could be reinvested at 10%, so another way to look at the problem is that the
3
$28,000 is worth $28,000(1.10) or $37,268 three years from now, which is slightly more than he
expects to receive from selling the trees then.

©2010 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall